Everyone experiences stress, and leaders face the additional stress brought about by the unique demands of leadership: having to make decisions with limited information, to manage conflict, to do more with less . . . and faster! The consequences of stress can include health problems and deteriorating relationships. Knowing what signs of stress to look for and having a strategy for increasing your resources will help you manage leadership stress and be more effective over a long career.

Table of Contents

The Stress of Leadership 7

Why Is Leadership Stressful? 8

Stress Assessment 13

When Stress Is Who, Not What 17

Handling Your Leadership Stress 20

Less Stress, Better Leadership 28

Suggested Readings 29

Background 29

Key Point Summary 31